“Ralph, it was to break the news to you that I came up hither to meet you,” replied the colonel, solemnly.
“The news! Great Heaven, sir, what news can there be that needs such serious breaking? You told me that she was well!” exclaimed the captain, changing color, and rising in his anxiety.
“Ralph! Margaret Helmstedt is lost to you forever.”
The soldier of a dozen battles dropped down into his chair as if felled, and covered his face with his hands.
“Ralph! be a man!”
A deep groan from the laboring bosom was the only response.
“Ralph! man! soldier! no faithless woman is worth such agony!”
He neither moved nor spoke; but remained with his face buried in his hands.
“Ralph! my son! my brave son! Ralph!” exclaimed the old man, rising in bed.
The captain put out his hand and gently pressed him back upon his pillow, saying in a calm, constrained voice: